Friday, October 07, 2005
San Francisco Used as the Golfer's Playground
By Marcelina Blea, Staff Writer
Last week San Francisco saw Johnny Mosely use the City for his birthday, holding the Icer Competition at Fillmore and Vallejo Streets.
Now, this week the whole world is here, using San Francisco as their playground.
With the backed up traffic along Sunset and Lake Merced Boulevard, it’s impossible to not notice the PGA World Golf Championship taking place across the street from SF State at Harding Golf Course, causing traffic frustration.
Monday morning, as I drove along Sunset to SF State, I got caught up in a traffic jam. The normally three lanes wide Sunset was limited down to one lane, on both sides, beginning near Quintara Street. I thought I was stuck in a funeral procession. There were about nine tour busses parked along Sunset, coincidently parked adjacent to a Church.
“Damn, who died,” I wondered.
Plenty of cops were out directing traffic. Then it dawned on me, as I came around Lake Merced to see the peaks of white tents on the golf course. The world isn’t coming to an end. It’s just coming to the PGA World Golf Championships.
A big orange sign near the Irving and Sunset displayed which items were allowed into the tournament and which items were not allowed. Driving along Sunset now feels as if I’m entering the Shoreline Amphitheatre. But this shoreline is our backyard.
I’ll admit I’m not the biggest golf fan. I’m barely tall enough to go miniature golfing. But must the PGA put SF State at an inconvenience?
Parking along Lake Merced, near the tournament entrance, is reserved for tour buses. Forget that Lake Merced Boulevard is where countless students living on campus park.
John Muir was blocked off at both ends, shutting out possible residents and through traffic. All so some big time golfers can have their tournament. These golfers get so many perks; maybe they can donate some cash to SF State.
Lot 25 is charging $25 for daily PGA parking. Kudos to SF State for quickly responding to the anticipated traffic and parking issues. They did send out a campus wide email letting students and staff know we will get parking priority in our SF State owned lots. There will be no PGA parking in Lot 20. Whew.
Even, the zoo is getting in on the act. They’re charging $20 for daily PGA parking.
However, there is one good thing to come out of the PGA tournament. The City has nicely landscaped the surrounding area of Harding Gold Course, from Great Highway (as if it’s not pretty enough), along John Muir and around Lake Merced Boulevard. I’ve never seen city workers finish a project so fast. Almost 16 years later, we’re still waiting for the Bay Bridge to be rebuilt.
Planning for the Championships began months ago, and the green signs directing attendees to parking lots were posted weeks ago.
I guess maybe next time I’ll start paying closer attention.
Last week San Francisco saw Johnny Mosely use the City for his birthday, holding the Icer Competition at Fillmore and Vallejo Streets.
Now, this week the whole world is here, using San Francisco as their playground.
With the backed up traffic along Sunset and Lake Merced Boulevard, it’s impossible to not notice the PGA World Golf Championship taking place across the street from SF State at Harding Golf Course, causing traffic frustration.
Monday morning, as I drove along Sunset to SF State, I got caught up in a traffic jam. The normally three lanes wide Sunset was limited down to one lane, on both sides, beginning near Quintara Street. I thought I was stuck in a funeral procession. There were about nine tour busses parked along Sunset, coincidently parked adjacent to a Church.
“Damn, who died,” I wondered.
Plenty of cops were out directing traffic. Then it dawned on me, as I came around Lake Merced to see the peaks of white tents on the golf course. The world isn’t coming to an end. It’s just coming to the PGA World Golf Championships.
A big orange sign near the Irving and Sunset displayed which items were allowed into the tournament and which items were not allowed. Driving along Sunset now feels as if I’m entering the Shoreline Amphitheatre. But this shoreline is our backyard.
I’ll admit I’m not the biggest golf fan. I’m barely tall enough to go miniature golfing. But must the PGA put SF State at an inconvenience?
Parking along Lake Merced, near the tournament entrance, is reserved for tour buses. Forget that Lake Merced Boulevard is where countless students living on campus park.
John Muir was blocked off at both ends, shutting out possible residents and through traffic. All so some big time golfers can have their tournament. These golfers get so many perks; maybe they can donate some cash to SF State.
Lot 25 is charging $25 for daily PGA parking. Kudos to SF State for quickly responding to the anticipated traffic and parking issues. They did send out a campus wide email letting students and staff know we will get parking priority in our SF State owned lots. There will be no PGA parking in Lot 20. Whew.
Even, the zoo is getting in on the act. They’re charging $20 for daily PGA parking.
However, there is one good thing to come out of the PGA tournament. The City has nicely landscaped the surrounding area of Harding Gold Course, from Great Highway (as if it’s not pretty enough), along John Muir and around Lake Merced Boulevard. I’ve never seen city workers finish a project so fast. Almost 16 years later, we’re still waiting for the Bay Bridge to be rebuilt.
Planning for the Championships began months ago, and the green signs directing attendees to parking lots were posted weeks ago.
I guess maybe next time I’ll start paying closer attention.
# posted by Phil Deez @ 5:21 PM 
